Memorial sweeps Katy to claim 19-5A volleyball title

By STEVEN THOMSON, For the Chronicle |
October 18, 2011
| Updated: October 18, 2011 9:13pm

Memorial's Makenzie Borman #9 makes a nice diving save against Katy during a high school volleyball match between Katy and Memorial Tuesday October 18, 2011 in Katy, Texas.

Photo By Bob Levey/Houston Chronicle

Memorial's Makenzie Borman #9 prepares to spike the ball against Katy during a high school volleyball match between Katy and Memorial Tuesday October 18, 2011 in Katy, Texas.

Photo By Bob Levey/Houston Chronicle

Katy's Rachel Hollywood #8 looks to spike the ball past Memorial's Erika Edrington #12 during a high school volleyball match between Katy and Memorial Tuesday October 18, 2011 in Katy, Texas.

Photo By Bob Levey/Houston Chronicle

Katy's Mollie Wolf #2 goes up high for a spike attempt as Memorial's Carly Freels #5 and Erika Edrington #12 defend during a high school volleyball match between Katy and Memorial Tuesday October 18, 2011 in Katy, Texas.

Photo By Bob Levey/Houston Chronicle

Memorial's Makenzie Borman, right, chats with teammates during a timeout during a high school volleyball match between Katy and Memorial Tuesday October 18, 2011 in Katy, Texas.

Photo By Bob Levey/Houston Chronicle

Katy's Keely Kainer #11 goes up for a big hit against Memorial during a high school volleyball match between Katy and Memorial Tuesday October 18, 2011 in Katy, Texas.

Photo By Bob Levey/Houston Chronicle

Katy celebrates during a big run in the third game against Memorial during a high school volleyball match between Katy and Memorial Tuesday October 18, 2011 in Katy, Texas.

Photo By Bob Levey/Houston Chronicle

Memorial celebrates their victory over Katy during a high school volleyball match between Katy and Memorial Tuesday October 18, 2011 in Katy, Texas.

Photo By Bob Levey/Houston Chronicle

Memorial's Caroline Ciaccio #7 has her spike stopped by Katy's Shelby Dawson #9, Lydia McKay #3 and Keely Kainer #11during a high school volleyball match between Katy and Memorial Tuesday October 18, 2011 in Katy, Texas.

Photo By Bob Levey/Houston Chronicle

Katy's Lydia McKay #3 gets the ball past Memorial's Carly Freels #5 during a high school volleyball match between Katy and Memorial Tuesday October 18, 2011 in Katy, Texas.

Photo By Bob Levey/Houston Chronicle

Memorial's Makenzie Borman #9 spikes the ball off the block attempt by Katy's Lydia McKay #3 and Shelby Dawson #9 during a high school volleyball match between Katy and Memorial Tuesday October 18, 2011 in Katy, Texas.

Photo By Bob Levey/Houston Chronicle

Katy's Lydia McKay #3 and Memorial's Carly Freels #5 meet at the net during a high school volleyball match between Katy and Memorial Tuesday October 18, 2011 in Katy, Texas.

Photo By Bob Levey/Houston Chronicle

Katy's Rachel Hollywood #8 is stuffed at the net by Memorial's Caroline Ciaccio #7 during a high school volleyball match between Katy and Memorial Tuesday October 18, 2011 in Katy, Texas.

Photo By Bob Levey/Houston Chronicle

Memorial's Caroline Ciaccio #7 spikes the ball past Katy's Rachel Hollywood #8 during a high school volleyball match between Katy and Memorial Tuesday October 18, 2011 in Katy, Texas.

Photo By Bob Levey/Houston Chronicle

Memorial's Mackenzie Borman #9 hits past the Memorial defense during a high school volleyball match between Katy and Memorial Tuesday October 18, 2011 in Katy, Texas.

Photo By Bob Levey/Houston Chronicle

Memorial's Ali Smith #1 its between the block attempt to Katy's Jordan Moore #16 and Rachel Hollywood #8 during a high school volleyball match between Katy and Memorial Tuesday October 18, 2011 in Katy, Texas.

KATY -- Memorial wrapped up the District 19-5A title with a 25-23, 25-16, 26-24 win over host Katy Tuesday.

The Mustangs second sweep of the Tigers allowed them to remain unbeaten in league play at 11-0. Katy fell to 9-2.

Tuesday's contest provided a distinctly different feeling than last season, when a less experienced Memorial team dropped their final four matches to miss the playoffs by one game.

"We took our lumps last year," Memorial coach Beth Gammill said. "We had a young team. The kids knew that and worked so hard in the offseason.

"We've been getting better and better. We've become a very cohesive team."

The Mustangs earned their first district title since 2007 by rising to challenges in all three sets.

Down two sets, Katy overcome a 23-15 deficit with nine unanswered points.

Suddenly faced with set point at 24-23, Memorial used a Tiger error and kills from Ali Smith and Carly Freels to take the match.

"We were at a point where we need two (points) before they got 10 and look what happened," Gammill said. "It's a game of momentum. I think that's what we went through last year. The kids needed to play together. That year of experience always makes a difference."

Memorial trailed through the entire first set. Katy led 23-22 before losing the final three points on errors.

The Tigers got strong play up front from Rachel Hollywood, Keeley Kainer and Lydia McKay, with McKay leading the offense with 14 kills.

Unforced errors hurt Katy all night, but no more than in the second set.

With Mackenzie Burman and libero Isabel Le anchoring the defense, Memorial broke an 11-11 tie with an 11-2 run.

Unable to put any balls down, the Tigers lost many of those points on mistakes.

"I think (Katy) got a little frustrated," Gammill said. "They were hitting the ball at us, that's for sure. Last year, Mackenzie was a sophomore and Isabel was a freshman. A year of experience is a huge deal."

Burman put Katy's defense further off balance by attacking off the back row in the third set.

That provided a contrast to the usual Mustang hitting that was led by Caroline Ciaccio's 10 kills.